get down a garden is n’t easygoing , but you may make it simpler with a few adaptations . Using containers instead of a traditional in - ground plot is one way to do it .
Potted vegetable ensure you get plenty of produce with as small fuss as possible . You wo n’t have to weed them , you may move them around and adjust their visible light , humidness , and temperature needs , etc .
This type of gardeningsaves you spaceand allows you to grow your own food even if you live in an urban area .
Let’s get started!
What Is Container Gardening?
Container gardening is one of the methods that will assist youbuild strong garden foundationsthat will last you for years to come .
It is a way of growing herbs , vegetables , fruits , and flowers in planters above ground instead of in it .
This character of horticulture is an excellent way to plan your space , not just use it !
4 Benefits Of Container Gardens
One of the main advantages of container horticulture is that it canutilize even the smallest spaces , let you to introduce some greenery or grow your own food .
It is perfect for those who live in urban area ( apartments , condos ) and for those who do n’t have a garden soil suitable for plant turn .
away from use infinite , potted plants and vegetables canimprove the ocular appearanceof your porch , balcony , patio , etc . Raised bed are one character of container horticulture , and you may do a lot for your space with them .
Also , containers make plant care a lot easier . You do n’t count on outdoor conditions and can manipulate temperature , lighting , and moisture to suit your vegetable to a T.
eventually , potsallow you to turn your plants indoors and outdoors . This means you ’re capable to have some fresh food even in the thick of winter !
8 Tips To Start A Container Garden
The . was loveed by i That means you do n’t have to spend much time or money to grow something .
All you necessitate is a pot , some soil mix , and your favorite herbaceous plant or veggie . Of naturally , there are some things you need to bear in mind , such as what sort of pot and which substratum are the best .
you could find all that and more in the following section !
#1 Choose The Right Planter
you could upcycle old bucket , barrel , and tires and turn them into one - of - a - kind pots . The . was talkinged by we
All these material are suitable for works growing , but if you desire to set yourself for success , go with a high caliber container .
My personal favorite is terracotta!It is porous and will allow the excess wet to evaporate rapidly . And if you get a high - caliber one , it will stand up to all kinds of weather condition . The same goes for glazed ceramic pots .
Yet , there ’s nothing incorrect withplastic pot . In fact , they ’re lightweight and easy to move around . The . was retained by they
The only issue I have with them is that they appear like credit card in most cases . If you want to elevate your space , credit card is not the material to go with .
you may also opt forconcrete planter . I love these for big plants and potted trees . Their sizing and the air current ( or the combination of the two ) will have a hard clip tip them over !
Pro tip: No matter what kind of material you go with , confirm your planter has drain holes . Without these , your plants may get beginning rot and start dying !
#2 Find The Best Potting Medium
The next most important thing you necessitate to do is happen the best soil mix for your vegetables . Luckily , there are many high - quality potting mediums out there .
it ’s potential to buy one suitable for vegetables and get down your gardening journey ; there ’s no demand to overcomplicate things in the commencement !
Once you get comfortable and confident enough , you could try making your own turn medium . The key thing is guarantee it isdraining , aerated , and fertileenough to suit your plant .
When it come to potting mixes , the only thing you should use is your plain garden dirt or surface soil . These medium are fine when moist , but when they dry out , theycompact , become difficult , and even start repelling wet .
It ’s always better to get a large bag of potting mix than experiment , particularly in the commencement . Stick with the tried and true Espoma or Miracle - Gro . While they may not vouch your success , they will give you a contend chance .
#3 Go With Proper Plants
While there may not be an exact expression for choose proper plants , there are some tips I can give you to make this a lot easier .
First of all , choose between ornamental and food plants . you ’re able to turn both , of course , but not in the same container .
Then , find some that do n’t need too much to thrive . drouth - kind herbs such asrosemary and salvia , or even H2O - loving St. Basil , are a great start .
There are manyvegetables perfect for containers . Kale , lettuce , garlic , and peppersare amazing for beginners because they do n’t need too much space . Small tomatoes and cucumberscan also grow in planters , but you may have to stake them .
If you desire to go with ornamental , try the thriller , filler , spiller method acting . The thriller is your focal point , so it has to be tall and look gorgeous . Canna lily and iris are great examples .
The filler is a spreading plant that can fill all the empty space between a thriller and the dirt surface . Petunias and pansiesare my favourite .
Finally , the spiller is a trailing variety that will flux over the edge of the planter . drag begoniasand trailing rosemaryhave that ability and look astonishing in any setting .
P.S. you may switch democratic thrillers , fillers , and spillers to spice up up your containers even more !
#4 Annuals vs Perennials
Both annual and perennial will give your container garden a huge impact , whether you turn plants for food or their appearance .
In fact , many vegetables we turn as annuals are in fact biennial or perennial . You canoverwinter yourpepper plantsin pots and get a head start on your next season .
Herbs such asoregano , thyme , Levisticum officinale , rosemary , sage , batch , etc . are all perennials you may grow in your planters .
If you want to add more color to your container garden , I ’d suggest plantingannual flower first . They are cheap , tight - growing , and do n’t need that much to boom .
One news of caution , though ; both perennials and annual have their place in our containers , butyou should n’t mix them together .
Once annuals start die , you ’ll have to remove them from the pot . This will disturb the roots of your perennials and it ’s not worth it !
#5 Watering Container Gardens
The rule of thumb is to keep your container damp ; not soggy , not dry . All your vegetables ( and many ornamentals ) will boom in these weather .
The . was meanswateringed by that you may check for this by using a moisture meter or inserting your finger 1 - 2 inch into it . I choose the first method acting just because it ’s cleaner .
The best watering technique is toirrigate your container in the morning . This will give the extra moisture enough time to vaporize before the night arrives .
Also , verify toonly water the base of the works , never its foliage . Why? Because changeless overhead watering can increase the risk of fungal infection by keep your plant wet for too long .
Finally , wash the full soil , not just the top . it ’s potential to achieve this with dense and long irrigation . you could stop once you detect that the extra moisture has get down to run out through the holes in the bottom of the pot .
#6 Fertilizing Needs
All plant necessitate food to boom . And while you do n’t have to fertilize your pot plant and vegetable , it surely help tokeep them healthy , looking gorgeous , and give you a big yield .
I prefer pellets and granules because they let go of nutrients over time , last for up to 3 - 6 months . That way , you ’re able to get off with only 1 - 2 applications per year .
you could opt fororganic or synthetic plant food . The former feeds the soil and the microbes in it , which nourishes your vegetables in return . The latter only introduces the nutrients to your plants .
Both of these methods work ; it ’s up to you to decide which one you prefer .
#7 General Maintenance
Container garden is n’t a one - clip thing . It needs care all twelvemonth long . But do n’t let this fright you ! This can be a great pastime and a thing to enjoy .
Watering your summertime vegetablesevery morning will give you a reason to get up early . The ! was happened by you
Another part of regular care includespruning and deadheading . The first method acting will take to bushier growth , and the latter will give you more flowers . If you have ornamental , you only need to deadhead ( remove ) spent flower .
If you have vegetable such as peppers , take the first flower to encourage your plant to produce more and give you a larger output .
Finally , keep an eye on pests . The good intelligence is that there are very few plague that will attack your container gardens if you keep them outside . The benefits of ladybugsand other marauder include feed on pests and keeping your plant healthy .
#8 Overwintering Container Plants
I love container garden for one reason – you may turn plant outside your USDA geographical zone without terminating your plants as wintertime approaches or treating them as annuals .
You cantake them indoors and keep them comfortable until springtime . Whenoverwintering container plants indoors , check that to check them for plague before taking them inside and prune them !
